Dear Editor,
It is quite clear that if the Guyana sugar industry is managed efficiently using a new production model it can become prosperous again with significant contribution to the economy and the workers and their families who work in the industry, uplifting their socio-economic status in the communities that they live. In turn the towns and villages where they live will prosper. It is quite clear that the present model and status quo that is in effect is not working and will drain the economy of its financial resources and put the nation, its employees and families in jeopardy.
The key factor in the profitability of the industry is to cut costs and increase productivity at both the field and factory levels. The industry needs to focus on outsourcing its field production, enhance and improve sustainability and employ advanced technology to enhance increased production and develop biofuel and electricity in an integrated manner.
Sugarcane is one of the highest yielding crops for producing biofuel in the world. In Brazil sugarcane’s total energy content is 437.7 GJ/ha with only Oil Palm in Indonesia coming close at 329.2 GJ/ha. Corn falls intermediate between these two.
Sugarcane is one of the most efficient plants on earth and has a photosynthetic efficiency of 1 to 2%. With good soil, tested varieties and excellent management production techniques assisted with advanced crop monitoring apps, sugarcane production should be in the vicinity of 80-110t/ha. Some sources have the potential for 470t/ha.
The model proposed here is outsourcing the field production system to farmers who will be made up of ex employees of the industry in the first place, followed by the general public thereafter and commercial holdings. 10-20ha would be good to be outsourced for the small farmer and this can be increased as the efficiency of the farmer is monitored.
In this new model, the Industry will maintain a robust Research and Extension Facility, acquire inputs for the industry and sell to farmers, develop new high yielding varieties in both the conventional sugarcane breeds as well as the energy varieties in anticipation of ethanol production in the future and research small scale machinery for sugarcane production. A new Extension Department incorporated in the Research Department must be established to spread the new technologies that the commercial farmers can use and must use as a means to increase production.
To reduce the labour cost, small scale sugar cane machinery which is widely available in India can be made available to the new cane farmers (research facility to experiment on suitability) and they should be encouraged to use them. Sugarcane farming cannot continue to be the back breaking activity that we know it to be. Youths must see sugarcane farming as a new investment area to go into. Tillers, cultivators, harvesters and planters are available at a fraction of the cost when compared to large machinery.
These are the proposals:
New sugarcane technologies need to be used in the industry in the new research and extension facility to monitor field condition and productivity (in place of workers doing the monitoring), for weeds, diseases and pest control and operational practices such as land preparation, planting, cultivation and harvesting. There are many new technologies out there that monitor sugarcane cultivation and production process- CANEFIT(GAMAYA), Syngenta – a Swiss based company which uses a new technology to grow sugarcane (used in Brazil). UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are some of the technologies that can be used to enhance productivity. Amity Software-Sugarcane Crop Monitoring Software. eLeaf-Sugarcane Monitoring are some other software available. There are many more that need to be researched. This department needs to be made up of young highly qualified individuals who have a commitment to make the industry prosper and believe in technologies.
Irrigation is an important resource that can increase yields and using irrigation technology can help increase production – although we have abundant rainfall there may be moisture deficits in the months of February-April and August-October when plants can be deficient in water. I think that this is an important factor in increasing yields. The current submerged/flooding of fields is an inefficient method of irrigation. Other more efficient and cost effective methods need to be investigated including fertigation methods which seem to enhance fertilizer and water application to the plant. There are many types of software out there and a practical tool is the FAO CROPWAT to monitor irrigation needs. Develop new energy cane varieties if you are going into energy production.
Move away from burning canes to enhance a clean environment and increase trash collection for energy needs together with bagasse. Returning factories residues to the field will enhance a sustainable future and recycle some of the nutrients taken from the field.
Electricity and bagasse surplus for cogeneration. I have no knowledge of their steam boilers parameters but some sources quoted the following. With a 32 bar, 300 degrees C electricity surplus can be 10.4KwH/t cane and a 65 bar, 480 degrees C can have a 139.7 kWH/T cane if they use sugar cane straw (green cane harvest).
To reduce labour cost and for workers to have a stake in the industry and to enhance production efficiency I advocate an Outgrower Contracting/Partnership, whereby the industry outsources sugarcane production to commercial or smallholder farms. Contracts and agreements must be made with respect to price based on sugar content, among other parameters. All excess land can be outsourced to Commercial Companies. Outgrowers can form Cooperatives to represent their interests and for bargaining purposes. Sugarcane contracts can allow these farmers to share in the profits of the industry (once it is outlined in the contract). Cash subsidies can be used to start this process. In this model, the Wales plantation can be outsourced to ex sugar workers to plant sugarcane. Cane can be supplied to Uitvlugt Estate.
Ethanol production from excess molasses offers the best short term innovation to producing ethanol – this has to be investigated for cost analysis. If yields are increased significantly the molasses will be more than adequate to satisfy the local market as well as to be used for ethanol production. Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to enhance sustainability in the environment. New ethanol production technology with integrated 1G and 2G processes can be expensive, but can be on the cards for the medium to long term. Research needs to be done.
Sugar factories need to significantly improve their efficiency. In this age and time the industry cannot use 17 tons of cane to make 1 ton of sugar. Sugar factories need to be divested and government/private companies hold a 50/50 share in the factories. This will allow for private capital into the industry to enhance modernization and improve efficiency to the level of 8-10 tons cane to 1 ton of sugar.
Yours faithfully,
Riaad Etheridge